Lake (Don't Call it "Lakes") District - Early Planning
Apr 29th, 2020, 10:44 AM
#1
Original Poster
Lake (Don't Call it "Lakes") District - Early Planning
Since I have our 2020 autumn trip to Portugal (that will no doubt be pushed back to at least 2021) all planned, I desperately need something to do now that I am on my sixth week of driving Tracy, the corgis and our cat crazy.
I have decided to plan a huge 2022 or 2023 trip to the Lake District, York area, drive north to southern Scotland along the east coast, cut across to Glasgow, Loch Lomond area, Oban, Isle of Martin Mull (just seeing if you're paying attention), and then come back through Glen Etive, Killin (by then my group might want to be Killin' me) and end in Edinburgh. Can I do that in two weeks? KIDDING .. this will b a long, long trip because by the time this journey comes to fruition in 2023 most probably, sadly our corgis will likely not be around. Of course, I might not be around either, but, on the plus side, Tracy's new lover will not have to do any planning.
Let's start with the Lake District, since I have nothing but time to plan this lengthy excursion. If any of you Anglophile experts could help me on this part of the planning, it would be appreciated. Looking for most charming towns, villages and walks ... hotels and restaurants (hopefully most will still be around) and area attractions.
If you're tired of talking Covid-19 (I know I am), perhaps some trip planning will pep you up. I know it will me. Although I'll be pushing 70 by this trip, if I'm still alive I will have had both knees replaced and perhaps my rotator cuff repaired so Tracy doesn't have to carry all the luggage. Thanks in advance. Look forward to at least talking travel for a bit.
I have decided to plan a huge 2022 or 2023 trip to the Lake District, York area, drive north to southern Scotland along the east coast, cut across to Glasgow, Loch Lomond area, Oban, Isle of Martin Mull (just seeing if you're paying attention), and then come back through Glen Etive, Killin (by then my group might want to be Killin' me) and end in Edinburgh. Can I do that in two weeks? KIDDING .. this will b a long, long trip because by the time this journey comes to fruition in 2023 most probably, sadly our corgis will likely not be around. Of course, I might not be around either, but, on the plus side, Tracy's new lover will not have to do any planning.
Let's start with the Lake District, since I have nothing but time to plan this lengthy excursion. If any of you Anglophile experts could help me on this part of the planning, it would be appreciated. Looking for most charming towns, villages and walks ... hotels and restaurants (hopefully most will still be around) and area attractions.
If you're tired of talking Covid-19 (I know I am), perhaps some trip planning will pep you up. I know it will me. Although I'll be pushing 70 by this trip, if I'm still alive I will have had both knees replaced and perhaps my rotator cuff repaired so Tracy doesn't have to carry all the luggage. Thanks in advance. Look forward to at least talking travel for a bit.
Apr 29th, 2020, 11:07 AM
#2
I sure hope the Corgis are still around (and you too . . . 
) Just quick now -- I might make a suggestion to do a little less zig zagging (you've laid out a bit of a figure 8-ish route). I'd do a loop (again 'ish') starting/ending at - any of the following will work - EDI, GLA, or MAN. Manchester would actually be my preference but any of the 3 would work great. A sample MAN > MAN itinerary could look like this: MAN, train to York, stay a couple of days car-less to recover, then car through the Dales, Northumberland, Borders, Edinburgh, Trossachs/Killin/Glen Etive, Mull, Dumfries/Galloway, the Lakes, Liverpool if you're interested, MAN
Same sort of thing EDI > EDI: Edinburgh, Trossachs/Glen Etive, Mull, Dumfries/Galloway, the Lakes, Yorkshire, Northumberland, the Borders, EDI
Now - for your actual question - I'll look throygh my files and dig up some of the places I've stayed in the Lake District . . .
later
) Just quick now -- I might make a suggestion to do a little less zig zagging (you've laid out a bit of a figure 8-ish route). I'd do a loop (again 'ish') starting/ending at - any of the following will work - EDI, GLA, or MAN. Manchester would actually be my preference but any of the 3 would work great. A sample MAN > MAN itinerary could look like this: MAN, train to York, stay a couple of days car-less to recover, then car through the Dales, Northumberland, Borders, Edinburgh, Trossachs/Killin/Glen Etive, Mull, Dumfries/Galloway, the Lakes, Liverpool if you're interested, MANSame sort of thing EDI > EDI: Edinburgh, Trossachs/Glen Etive, Mull, Dumfries/Galloway, the Lakes, Yorkshire, Northumberland, the Borders, EDI
Now - for your actual question - I'll look throygh my files and dig up some of the places I've stayed in the Lake District . . .
later
Apr 29th, 2020, 11:22 AM
#5
I have been watching Tony Robinson shows on amazon for inspiration. Since we aren't going anywhere next month redoing the trip. I am loving the rural areas now. I think being around fewer people next trip is a good thing. I wish I could hike the coast but waiting to see how husband does after that back surgery. It is tough but at least my husband and you have strong wives.
Apr 29th, 2020, 02:42 PM
#6
Original Poster
Janis ... Thanks, your route is much better and includes another area we would not have visited (nothing wrong with a longer trip). I'm sure we'll have lots of Dumfries/Galloway questions.
Macross ... Yes, I married well, and apparently so did your husband.
Macross ... Yes, I married well, and apparently so did your husband.
Apr 29th, 2020, 03:24 PM
#7
Is Lincoln in your plans? Cathedral town about an hour from York. Also, Castle Howard is near York. Remember Brideshead Revisited ? oops.... sorry... your probably too young to have seen that one.
Apr 29th, 2020, 03:30 PM
#8
Original Poster
"Also, Castle Howard is near York. Remember Brideshead Revisited ? oops.... sorry... your probably too young to have seen that one."
Yes, castle Howard is on my list, although I thought it was he home of Moe and Curly. As for being too young, I remember the Lone Ranger
Yes, castle Howard is on my list, although I thought it was he home of Moe and Curly. As for being too young, I remember the Lone Ranger
Apr 30th, 2020, 01:58 AM
#10
The obvious thing to do is fly into Manchester, but rather than getting straight onto a train, have a couple of nights in the city. I'm biased because it's my home town, but there's a lot to see and do in Manchester, as well as great restaurants and lots of hotels across the budget range. The city has strong links with the US going back to Lincoln's time and Lincoln Square has a statue of the President. Don't miss some of the best Victorian architecture in the UK and a cathedral that has its roots back for a thousand years. https://www.manchestercathedral.org/...ut-us/history/
You should see the Town Hall, Chetham's School, John Rylands Library, the site of the Peterloo massacre History of The Peterloo Massacre to name but a few. There's great shopping and food from every corner of the globe.
From Manchester, head to the Lakes staying around Windermere or Bowness on Windermere. Bowness has several lovely hotels facing the lake and you should hire a car to get there and to give you access to walks and other sites. Maybe consider Grizedale forest for its sculptures. You really only need one base in the Lakes to allow you to get more or less anywhere, albeit you might have a long day or two.
From there, I'd head through the Yorkshire Dales to York, maybe stop at Harrogate and then North to Durham, a wonderful historic city. Then again North to Alnwick, Bamburgh for its castle and then on to Edinburgh. Don't forget to take in Hadrian's Wall while you're in the area.
I'll let the Scotland experts take it on from here, but I'd not miss Skye and Mull.
You should see the Town Hall, Chetham's School, John Rylands Library, the site of the Peterloo massacre History of The Peterloo Massacre to name but a few. There's great shopping and food from every corner of the globe.
From Manchester, head to the Lakes staying around Windermere or Bowness on Windermere. Bowness has several lovely hotels facing the lake and you should hire a car to get there and to give you access to walks and other sites. Maybe consider Grizedale forest for its sculptures. You really only need one base in the Lakes to allow you to get more or less anywhere, albeit you might have a long day or two.
From there, I'd head through the Yorkshire Dales to York, maybe stop at Harrogate and then North to Durham, a wonderful historic city. Then again North to Alnwick, Bamburgh for its castle and then on to Edinburgh. Don't forget to take in Hadrian's Wall while you're in the area.
I'll let the Scotland experts take it on from here, but I'd not miss Skye and Mull.
Apr 30th, 2020, 06:52 AM
#11
Oh -- I didn't mean to 'dis' Manchester. 
I definitely would fit in a couple of days there either immediately on arrival . . . Or my actual preference would be take the train from MAN to York, do something like the the loop itinerary I posted, then turn in the car a couple of days before your flight home and finish up with 2 nights in the city.
I definitely would fit in a couple of days there either immediately on arrival . . . Or my actual preference would be take the train from MAN to York, do something like the the loop itinerary I posted, then turn in the car a couple of days before your flight home and finish up with 2 nights in the city.
Apr 30th, 2020, 07:14 AM
#12
Re crowds in the Lake District: They get very crowded over the May Bank Holidays (first and last weekends of the month) and in July/August so it would be much better if you can avoid those specific times. Mid May or June will see half or less numbers of visitors.
As in the Dales, travel in the Lakes can be slow so since you seem to be planning an extended trip, I'd maybe stay a couple of days (or more) in two different areas -- say on/near Derwent Water in the north, and on Windermere or Coniston Water to the south.
As in the Dales, travel in the Lakes can be slow so since you seem to be planning an extended trip, I'd maybe stay a couple of days (or more) in two different areas -- say on/near Derwent Water in the north, and on Windermere or Coniston Water to the south.
Apr 30th, 2020, 07:48 AM
#13
Original Poster
We would travel from mid to late May through early to mid-June. I sent Kim and Mary my five Google maps I have made of our extended route along with many of the places I want to see on our travels. They just got out of the ER after passing out looking at the itinerary.
Apr 30th, 2020, 08:01 AM
#14
I definitely second Rubicund's suggestion to visit Harrogate and Fountains Abbey while at the Dales. We spent a week and a half on a choral exchange based in Harrogate. Tons of charming towns and villages. Weather in April was a bit iffy but the flowers were blooming everywhere.
Apr 30th, 2020, 08:52 AM
#16
" . . . We would travel from mid to late May through early to mid-June. "
That works great. If you do a loop anticlockwise (counterclockwise to us Yanks) you'd be into the Lake District in mid June so after the May Bank Holiday hordes. And if you do it clockwise you'd be there between the two holiday rushes.
The May bank holidays don't have the same sort of overwhelming impact in Scotland, but you would want to pre-book well in advance - like months - any accommodations over the holiday weekend (same as our Memorial Day weekend)
That works great. If you do a loop anticlockwise (counterclockwise to us Yanks) you'd be into the Lake District in mid June so after the May Bank Holiday hordes. And if you do it clockwise you'd be there between the two holiday rushes.
The May bank holidays don't have the same sort of overwhelming impact in Scotland, but you would want to pre-book well in advance - like months - any accommodations over the holiday weekend (same as our Memorial Day weekend)
Apr 30th, 2020, 01:10 PM
#17
Apr 30th, 2020, 01:13 PM
#18
Oh -- I didn't mean to 'dis' Manchester. I definitely would fit in a couple of days there either immediately on arrival . . . Or my actual preference would be take the train from MAN to York, do something like the the loop itinerary I posted, then turn in the car a couple of days before your flight home and finish up with 2 nights in the city.
I definitely would fit in a couple of days there either immediately on arrival . . . Or my actual preference would be take the train from MAN to York, do something like the the loop itinerary I posted, then turn in the car a couple of days before your flight home and finish up with 2 nights in the city.
May 1st, 2020, 07:41 AM
#19
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This might help (my TR and photos from a couple of years back)
Swallows and Amazons! (or a midweek break in the Lake District)
Swallows and Amazons! (or a midweek break in the Lake District)
May 1st, 2020, 07:45 AM
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